The American Flag is a symbol of freedom and hope around the world. It’s why 15-year-old Wesley Miller of Troop 331 in Collierville dedicated his Eagle Scout Project to it, while raising an additional $16,000 to send World War II veterans back to the lands where they fought.
Miller’s project was two-fold. First, he erected a flagpole at the Forever Young Senior Veterans’ office complete with lighting, landscaping and a commemorative plaque. Secondly, he hoped to raise an additional $5,200 to fully fund a veteran’s trip back to Europe with Forever Young in May.
Of course, if you do the math, Wesley raised enough additional funds to send three veterans on “The Beaches to the Bulge” Trip of Honor last month.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Wesley’s efforts to complete his project,” said Executive Director, Daniel Hight. “We never dreamed he’d raise this much money to honor the Greatest Generation.”
Furthermore, the flag that is now flying outside the Forever Young office is a WWII-era flag, waving 48-stars, a star for every state that was part of the union when WWII broke out. It is similar to the flags that flew at Mt. Suribachi and on the ships that assaulted the beaches of Normandy. It seems only fitting to fly this 48-star flag in honor of the men that Forever Young seeks to honor, the ones that saved the world’s freedom over 70 years ago.
“Wesley was a delight to partner with on his project,” Hight said. “He was thoughtful, intentional, and hard working. From the planning to the execution, he did an outstanding job. What I want to know is, when can I hire him?”
